Inking mechanism and method



22, 1935. E. J. SMITH 2,018,193

INKING MECHANISM AND METHOD Original Filed Aug. 2'?, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 O1.22,1935. 515mm y' I 2,018,193

INKING MECHANISM AND METHOD Original Filed Aug. 27, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INKING MECHANISM AND METHOD Original Fil'ed Aug. 27, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 22, 1935. E, J. SMITH I 2,018,193

Y l INKING MECHANISM AND METHOD n Original Filed Aug. 27, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4:

l Patented Oct. 22, 1935 2,018,1o3 y n mmc. MEcnANrsn AND MEjrHon Ernest James Smith, Fleet Street, London, England, assignor to The Goss Printing Press Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application The present invention relates to a novel and useful inking mechanism and method and more particularly to such a. mechanism and method particularly adapted for use with high speed ro- 5 tary presses.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part ,will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations pointed vout in the appended claims. The invention consists in the novel parts, constructons, arrangements', combinations and irnprovements herein shown and described.`

'I'he accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof,` illustrate two embodiments of vthe invention, 'and together with .the description, serve to' explain the principles of the invention. 4

Of the drawingszt Figure 1' is a fragmentaryv plan view of. one of the embodiments of the inking mechanism voi! the present invention, with the ink drum omitted and other parts broken away to showthe structure more clearly;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1; i

vFigure 3 is a similar sectional view the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the inking mech#v supplied to an inking drum or other cylinder to be inked. Another object is the provision of an inking mechanism of the kind referred to in which the ink is Amaintained in a thoroughly mixed condition. Still another object is.the provision of a novel and improved method of supplying ink to a press.

In accordance with the present invention a cylinder to be inked such as an ink drum is provided and is preferably rotated at substan- 1 tially the same peripheral speed as the plate taken' on August 27, 1931, Serial No. 559,717 Renewed August 6, 1935 29 claims.l (ci. 10i-ass) cylinder of the press. Adjacent to the drum and supplying ink thereto is a small reservoir extending along the length of the drum and to which ink is supplied under pressure. The reservoir is preferably provided with a 'longitudinal 5 edge, closely tted to the drum and is also provided with a\ rigid, relatively wide edge, spaced a slight distance from the drum, which serves` to limit the thickness ofthe film of ink applied to the drum, renders the iilm of ink uniform and insures thorough coating of the drum with ink. The ink under pressure may flow past the first edge reversely to the movement of the drum, while it is firmly pressed against the drum by they second edge. is also provided to remove a predetermined and variable amount of the ink from the drum surface, this blade being preferably capable of adf justment throughout its length to vary the'.

amount of ink as required by dierent sections l of the plate cylinder. n v- `The surplusy ink removed by the regulable blade is removed from the fountain and is eral description and th following detailed description as well, are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

. Referring now in detail Ato the present preferred and illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings,

la cylindrical inking drum'to be inked I0 extends across the width of the press and isrotated at press speed, being rotatably journalled in the 40 press frames I2 by means of shaft I3. While drum III may be of any suitable construction, it

'Along the upper side of the reservoir is provided a relatively heavy and rigid blade I6, securely fastened by bolts I1 to the casting I8 forming the base of the reservoir. Casting I8 is securely 5F A regulable blade 15' mounted on the side frames I2 bythe end plates I8, 'I'he edge I9 of the blade I6 extends to within a relatively small distance of the inking drum I0, providing a narrow, and preferably fixed, passageway between the edge I9 and the drum I0 throughout the entire length of the reservoir.

At the bottom edge of the reservoir, the wall 20, forming the lower edge of the reservoir, is positioned very close to the surface of the drum and is also curved to correspond with the surface of the drum, providing a rigid distributing and regulating member of substantial width. This edge limits the amount of ink retained on the surface of the drum as the drum rotates past the reservoir, and also serves to press or wedge the ink against the drum with a relatively high degree of pressure.

Means-are also provided for maintaining the reservoir lled with ink under pressure, and if desired for supplying to the reservoir a quantity of ink sufficient to maintain a slight flow past edge I9 in a direction reverse to that of the rotation of the drum- I 0. -As embodied, the reservoir R is formed with a plurality of downwardly-extending passageways 2I, which are attached at their lower ends to pipes 22, receiving ink under pressure from a pump 23 driven by motor 24. Pump 23 has sufficient capacity to supply considerably more ink to the reservoir than is required by the drum, although it need not be operated at full capacity.

Means are provided for collecting and returning the excess ink supplied to the reservoir and the ink fiowing between edge I9 and drum III drains through passageway 26 into a collecting chamber 21, from which it is removed by motordriven pump 28v through pipes 29. If desired, a

' single pump may be employed instead of the separate pumps 23 and 28.

Pumps 23 and 28, in addition to their function of circulating ink to and from the reservoir, also serve to maintain the ink in a thoroughly mixed, uniform condition, thereby preventing settling of the pigment from the relatively thin vehicle generally employed in inks used on high speed presses.

In order to maintain the ink clean and free vof specks, grit and other foreign matter, which would cause imperfection in the printed product. the ink removed from the reservoir or cavity adjacent to thev drum I0 is filtered before it is returned to the reservoir. As embodied, pump 28, receiving the excess ink from the reservoir, forces the ink through a suitable filter 3| and into a storage tank 32, from which it is withdrawn and returned to the reservoir by pump 23. As ink is used, additional ink may be supplied to the inking mechanism by adding it to the tank 32.

To regulate the amount of ink supplied to the press,.and to vary this longitudinally of the ink drum IU in accordance with the individual requirements of the various sections of the platey cylinder, a regulable 4blade is provided, mounted on the 'fountain below the reservoir, and contacting with the surface of the ink drum. As embodied, blade y4I) comprises a relatively thin resilient member,rigidly fastened to a longitudinally extending ledge 4I by means of plate 42 and screws 43; These parts are so positioned that -theinormal resiliency of the blade 40 presses it into rm contact with the drum. Means are also provided for moving the blade toward and away from the drum, to take up wear in the blade, and these means comprise a plurality oi` thumb screws 44, threaded in the casting 45, and bearing against by regulating the amount of ink retained on the 5 inking drum I0 and transferred to the press, a

plurality of uniformly spaced thumb screws 46 are threaded in the upper part of the casting, with their relatively long Shanks 41 projecting downwardly through supporting guides 48, and 10 their rounded ends 41a bearing against the upper side of the free end of the blade 40. By turning the thumb screws 46, the free end' of the blade 4I! is moved back and forth, and the thickness of the film of ink retained on the ink drum I8 I5 is thereby varied throughout the length of the cylinder.

For the purpose of securing better individual regulation of the ink supplied to the various longitudinal sections of the drum, the blade 40 is l0 formed in a plurality of similar contiguous sections, having their upper or drum-contacting edges alined, the individual blades being so positioned relatively to the thumb screws 46 that the ends 41a bear against the middle portions of the $5 blades near the edge.

In order to clean the surface of the ink drum immediately prior to the application of ink thereto, for the purpose of eliminating lint and any other foreign matter which may collect on the n surface of the inking drum, a relatively stiff scraper blade 50 is provided to contact with the surface of the inking drum immediately prior to the application of ink thereto and after transfer of ink from the drum to the inking roll. I I. As embodied, blade 50 extends along the length of 1 the inking drum I0, and is mounted on the casting I8 immediately above the reservoir by means of screws 5I, the front end of the blade 50 being permanently pressed into contactwith the drum 40 I0 by the resiliency of the relatively stiff blade. Blade 50 may also be provided with drain holes 52.

The end walls I5 are in closely abutting relationwith the blades 40 and 5I) and, as previously described, are curved correspondinglyv tothe con- 4| tour of the drum to form a relatively tight seal. Preferably the end walls I5 are provided with a relatively wide face abutting the blade ends so as to minimize any tendency-of ink to leak.

For securing uniform distribution of the ink 50 over the surface of the drum I0, means maybe provided for longitudinally' vibrating the drum.' .As embodied, drum I0 is longitudinally movable with respect t6 the side frames I2, and at one end of shaft I3 is provided a collar 55 fixedto 55 thev shaft. An eccentric .56, mounted on a bracket 5l on the corresponding press frame I2 is connected by pitman 58 to a bell crank 59, which is pivotally mounted in bracket 60 on frame I2. At the other end of the bell crank, a roller 6I 50 is rotatably mounted to run in the groove of collar 55, so that as eccentric 56 is driven at a relatively slow speed from the press, bell crank 59 is oscillated, thereby vibrating inking drum I0.

In order to collect any ink which may drip 55 from drum I0 adjacent' to the point of its contact with blade 4I), the blade-securing plate 42 is formed with a forwardly-extending lip 64, directly beneath the forward end of blade 40, lip 64 terminating slightly in front of the lowermost 7o portion of drum I0;

The modified embodiment of the invention, illustratively shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, is generally similar to that previously described. In this embodiment, ink is supplied 75 to the reservoir by eansof pipes 22 connected with pump 23, sufil ient ink being provided to maintain the desired pressure in the reservoir and to cause a small iiow of ink between edge I9 and drum II)v in a direction opposite to that of the rotation of the drum. lThe relatively wideL edge 20 limits the amountof ink retained on the drum I0 at the passage past the reservoir. 'I'he surplus inl: supplied to the reservoir collects in the chamber 21, is removed by pump 28 and after mixing and filtering, it is returned to the reservoir by pump 23.

The regulation of the amount of ink supplied to the press is effected by means of a yresilient blade 10, securely fastened to the fountain casting I8 by means of plate 1I and screws 12, the

- plate, -blade and screws being movable toward and away from the drum. Casting I8, in this embodiment, is provided with a plurality of relatively long apertures 13 extending substantially parallel to blade 10 and substantially uniformly spaced from each other corresponding to the individual sections of the plate cylinder. To se. cure better individual regulation of the ink sup,- plied to the several longitudinal sections of the plate cylinder, the blade 10 maybe formed as a plurality of narrow, contiguous members, each corresponding in width to the sections of the plate cylinder.

tact with small balls 16 seated in apertures 11 communicating with apertures 13./ Balls 16 support the under side of the blades 10, so that the blades may be variably-positioned relatively to the drum to. regulate thepressure of the blade against the cylinder and thereby control the supply of ink.

In accordance with the method forming part of the present invention, which may be carried the vinl: drum III is rotated' at substantially the same speed as that ofthe printing press cylinder, its surfacel being continually cleaned and adherent foreign matter being removed therefrom by means of the relatively stiff scraper blade 5I). Thel clean surface of the drum is then contacted with a mass of ink under pressure in reservoir R, and the initial contact of the surface with this ink may be made while the ink is owing relatively fast in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the surface of the drum past edge I9 and thoroughly coats the drum. After application ofthe ink in this manner, all but a small uniform quantity' of the ink is removed from the of the drum bypassage of the drum past the relatively wide rigid edge 20. A substantial part of the adherent film of ink is then removed leaving only the desired'andeasily regulable amount of ink on the drum which corresponds substan-A tially exactly with the `requirements of the press. The regulable removal of the surplus ink is accomplished by means of the blades I0, which can be variably tensined against the surface of the drum. Due to the fact that only a small quantity of ink is contained in the reservoir R, only a relatively small amount of ink is subjected to the disintegrating action of the ink drum, thereby maintaining the ink in a homogeneous conditionfor a much longer period of time. As only a small quantity of ink is removedl by the blade,

no large quantity of ink can build up against the Thumb screws 14, having pointed ends 15 and threadedly secured in the apertures 13 are provided, and their pointed ends 15 con-1,`

Iout by mechanism of the type described above,

The excess ink, comprising the ink removed. by the regulable blade` 40, as well as the excess ink flowing past'edge I9, is'collectedin/chamber 2 1 from which it is drained by motor driven pump 28, and after filtering through filter 3|,is re- 5 circulated to the ink reservoir R under pressure by means of motordriven pump -23, pumps 23 and 28 each serving to thoroughly mix the ink v and maintain it in a uniform condition thereby avoiding any settling of the pigment from the l0 vehicle which might otherwise occur. f

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited tothe specific mechanisms `shown and described but departures may be-made therefrom within the scope of `the accompanying l5 claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim iszf 1. In an ink fountain, the combination of an 20 ink drum, a pressure cavity having a pair of vedges closely adjacent to the drum and extending drum, a pressure cavity having av pair of 3-,

edges closely adjace t to the drum, fmeans for supplying ink under ressure to the cavity Whereby the surface of the drum is provided with a film of ink asv it passes one edge of the cavity and surplus ink flows over the other edge of the 35 cavity, means for regulably removingthe sur-- plus portion of the film carriedby the drum surface and means fonc'ollecting the surplus ink, remixing it and returning it to the supplying means. l

3. In an ink fountain, the combination of an l ink drum, a pressure cavity having a pair 'of rigid edges vclosely adjacent tothe drum, means :for supplying ink under pressure to the cavity. in excess of the requirements of the press where- 45 by the surface of the drum is provided with a film of ink as it passes' oneedge'of` the and means for vibrating the drum.

4. In an' ink fountain, thecombination of a ink drum, a pressure cavity having a pair of rigid 50 4 edges closely adjacent to the drum surface, means for supplying ink under pressure to the cavity for applying ink to the surface of the drum, oneA of said edges serving to remove all but a uniform film of ink from the drum surface, a blade for 55 regulably removing a portion of said film of ink, and means for collecting the removed ink and returning it to the supplying means.

` 5. In an undershot ink fountain, thecombination of an ink drum, an ink reservoir to sup- 60 ply ink tov said drum and a fountain blade to.. regulate the amountof ink retained on the drum surface, said blade being positioned apart from the reservoir and the reservoir.' v -1 6. linV an undershot inkl fountain, the combi' nation of an ink` drum, an ink reservoir to supply ink'to said drum, a fountain blade positioned lbelow and spaced from the' reservoir to regulate the amount of inkretained on the drum 70 supporting none of the ink in as surface, said blade ksupporting none of the ink in the reservoir, and means for permittingthe ink to drain away from the point of contact of said blade with the drum.

7. rn an undershot mk fountamthe combi- 16 cavity f Vnation of an ink drum, means for applying ink to the drum, a fountain blade positioned below and away from the ink applying means, and means for withdrawing surplus ink from the blade, means for filtering the withdrawn ink, and means for returning the withdrawn ink to the applying means.

8.' In an undershot inkffountain, the combination of an ink drum to be' rotated, a pressure cavity having a pair of edges closely adjacent to the drum, means for supplying ink under pressure to the cavity, means for collecting the ink as it overflows from the cavity, means for regulably removing surplus ink from the drum, means for remixing the ink removed from the drum and means for returning it to the supplying means. u

9. In an undershot ink fountain, the combi- ,naton of an inkdrum to be rotated, a pressure cavity having a pair of edges closely adjacent to the drum, means for supplying ink under pressure to the cavity whereby the ink flows with and reversely to the movement of the ink drum, and means for regulably removing a portion of the ink carried by the surface of the drum away from the cavity.

10. In an undershot ink fountain, the comblnation of an ink drum to be rotated, a pressure cavity having a pair of edges closely adjacent to the drum, means for supplying ink under pressure to the cavity whereby the inlr flows in both directions away from the cavity, a regulable blade for removing surplus ink from the drum surface andmeans for collecting the surplus ink and overflow ink and returning it to the supplying means.

11. In an undershot ink fountain, the combination of an ink drum to be rotated, a pressure cavity having a pair of edges closely adjacent to the drum, means for supplying ink under pressure to the cavity whereby the ink ilows in both directions away from the cavity, and means for filtering a portion of the ink flowing from the cavity and returning it to the supplying means.v

12. In an undershot ink fountain, the combination of an ink drum to be rotated, a pressure cavity having a pair of edges closely adjacent to the drum, means for supplying ink under pressure to the cavity whereby the ink flows in both directions away from the cavity, and means for remixlng a portion of the ink flowing from the cavity and returning it to the supplying means.

13'. In an undershot ink fountain, the combination of an ink drum, a pressure cavity havin;1 a pair of edges closely adjacent to the drum but differently spaced therefrom, the edge' adjacent the advancing side of the drum being the farthest away of the two, and means for supplying ink to the pressure cavity to contact it with the drum, whereby a xedquantity of ink being farthest from the drum,` means for supplyj ing ink under pressure to the cavity to apply ink to the drum and means for regulably removing surplus ink from the drum, the edges of the cavity acting to allow the' ink to flow both with and reversely to the movement of the drum.

15. In an undershot ink fountain," the combination of an ink drum to be rotated, a-presbeing farthest away from the drum and means for supplying ink under pressure tov the cavity to apply it to the drum,

16. In an undershot ink fountain, the combination of an ink drum to be rotated, a pressure cavity having a pair of edges closely adjacent to the drum, means for supplying ink under pressure to the cavity, means for collecting the ink as it overflows from the cavity and returning it to the supplying means.

17. In an undershot ink fountain, the combination of an ink drum to be rotated, a pressure cavity having a pair of edges closely adjacent to the drum, means for supplying ink under pressure to the cavity, means for collecting the ink as it overflows from the cavity, and means for filtering, Vrerniaing and returning the ink to the supplying means.

i8. The method of supplying ink to a rotating cylindrical member of a printing press which includes maintaining a relatively large amount of ink under pressure in contact with the surface of the cylinder, rotating the cylinder, obstructing the fiow of ink with the cylinder solthat only a thin film of ink remains on the cylinder and obstructing the flow of ink reverselyto the rotation of the cylinder to a lesser extent.

19. An inking mechanism forrotary printing presses including in combination a rotatable cyllnder to be'inked, an ink discharge means opening onto the cylinder, a scraper blade for cleaning the surface of the cylinder prior to inking, a exible blade for removing surplus ink from the cylinder, end walls forming with the blades and cylinder a tightly sealed chamber within ing onto the cylinder, a removable scraper blade positioned in advance of the opening for cleaning the surface of the cylinder, a flexible blade positioned on the other side of the opening, said flexible blade extending throughout substantially the entire length of the cylinder, means adjacent to the ends of the cylinder and cooperating with the scraperv and flexible blades for forming a tightly sealed chamber enclosing the ink discharge opening, means for variably positioning the flexible blade with reference to the cylinder, and means for collecting and recirculating all of the surplus ink supplied to the cylinder.

21. An inking mechanism for rotary printing presses` including in combination a rotatable cyl- -inder to be inked, an ink discharge means opening onto the cylinder, a removable scraper blade positioned in advance of the opening for cleaning the surface of the cylinder, a flexible blade positioned on the other side of the opening, said flexible blade extending throughout substantially the entire length of the cylinder, means adjacent to the ends ofthe cylinder and cooperating with the scraper and flexible blades for forming a chamber enclosing the ink discharge opening, means for variably positioning the flexible blade with reference to the cylinder, "and means for collecting and recirculating all of the surplus ink supplied to the cylinder.

22. In an inking mechanism, a cylinder to be inked, an ink cavity for holding ink adjacent to said cylinder, a pump to supply ink continuously to said cavity, a flexible doctor blade for variably regulating the amount of ink retained on the cylinder surface and a rigid member positioned between said cavity and blade for regulating the amount of ink on said cylinder preliminarily to its regulation by the doctor blade, and drainage meansl between said cavity and blade for collecting surplus ink and returning it to the reservoir. y

23. In an inking mechanism, a cylinder to be inked, an ink cavity for holding ink adjacent t said cylinder, an ink reservoir, a pump to supply ink continuously to said cavity, a flexible blade for variably regulating the amount of ink retained on the cylinder surface, a rigid member of substantial Width closely adjacent to the cylinder for limiting the amount of ink to be removed by thel blade, and drainage means between said cavity and blade for collecting surplus ink and returning it to the reservoir.

24. In an inking mechanism, a cylinder to be inked, an ink cavity for holdingink adjacent to said cylinder, an ink reservoir, a pump to supply ink continuously to said cavity, a flexible blade for variably regulating the amount of ink retained on the cylinder surface, a rigid member closely adjacent to the cylinder for limiting the amount of ink on the cylinder and to be removed by the blade, drainage means between said cavity and blade for collecting surplus ink and returning it to the reservoir, and means extending the length of the cylinder and having an edge closely adjacent to the cylinder and on the other side of the cavity from the blade for covering a substantial part of the upper cylinder surface.

25. An inking mechanism for rotary printing presses including in combination a rotatable cylinder to be inked, a plurality of parallel edges closely adjacent to the cylinder and spaced from each other, one of said edges serving to form a substantial seal with the cylinder, another edge serving to regulate the amount of ink retained on the cylinder, an ink reservoir, a pump for supplying and recirculating ink from said reservoir between certain of said edges whereby it is applied to said cylinder and forced thereagainst in a plurality of places by a plurality of said edges, and means for returning surplus ink to said reservoir. 26. In an inking mechanism for rotary printing presses the combination of a rotatable cylinder to be inked, a reservoir, a pump for supplying ink from said reservoir to the surface of said cylinder, a plurality of parallel, spaced apart means for regulating the amount `of ink retained on the cylinder surface, the last of said means being regulable to regulate the amount of ink to be transferred from said cylinder, and meansfor returning excess ink to said reservoir from all of said regulating means.

27. In an inking mechanism forrotary printing presses the combination of a rotatable cylinder to be inked, a reservoir, a pump for supplying ink from said reservoir to the surface of said cylinder, and a plurality of parallel, spaced apart means for repeatedly applying the ink to the cylinder surface, one of said means being regulable to regulate the amount of ink to be transferred from said cylinder and a sealing member closely against the cylinder on its side oppositey the flexible blade.

28. In an inking mechanism for rotary printing presses the combination of a rotatable cylinder to be inked, an ink reservoir, a plurality of axially parallel members for successively forcing ink against the cylinder surface, a pump for pumping ink from said reservoir to a point in advance of said plurality of members, one of said members being flexible and regulable to vary the amount of ink retained on said surfaces, and means immediately in advance of said plurality of flexible members for collecting excess ink and returning it to the reservoir. Y

29. In an inking mechanism for rotary printing presses the combination of a rotatable cylinder to be inked, a. reservoir, a pump for supplying inkA from saidl reservoir to the cylinder surface, a plurality of axially parallel spaced apart members closely adjacent to the cylinder surface for applying, confining and regulating ink on the cylin- -der surface, the last of said members comprising 

